logo
welcome
Live Science

Live Science

How strong can hurricanes get?

Live Science
Summary
Nutrition label

80% Informative

There is a "speed limit" on sustained wind speed, called maximum potential intensity.

It is dictated by several factors, including the heat present in the ocean.

Milton 's sustained winds reached 180 mph ( 298 km /h) before weakening slightly on Tuesday .

Milton is expected to make landfall on the Florida coast Wednesday or Thursday .

Wehner : "Could these storms actually sustain themselves? I don't think we know" It may be that, at extreme wind speeds, these storm-weakening phenomena become inevitable.

Wehner says it's almost impossible to imagine a 4-degree warmer world with 192 mph winds.